Navigating the Academic Semester at AMU: A Comprehensive Guide

The academic semester at AMU (American Military University) is structured with specific guidelines and timelines. Understanding these guidelines is crucial for students to effectively plan their studies, manage their financial aid, and maintain satisfactory academic progress. This article provides a detailed overview of the AMU semester schedule, covering key aspects such as course registration, financial aid, academic policies, and institutional exams.

Academic Year Structure

AMU defines an academic year as two consecutive 16-week academic semesters, totaling 32 weeks. However, because the university has rolling monthly starts, and 8- and 16-week course sessions, the dates of each academic year and corresponding semesters vary.

Course Registration and Planning

Planning and registering for courses early minimizes the risks of losing part or all of their financial aid eligibility. When using FSA to pay for school, it's wise to register no later than one week prior to the start of each semester. It is recommended that you register for all of your courses for the entire 16-week academic semester. When you register for courses using FSA, please select Federal Student Aid as your payment type.

Registration with Federal Student Aid (FSA)

For packaging Federal Student Aid (FSA), APUS requires students take classes within a defined academic year schedule. To create your academic year, answer yes to "Using Federal Student Aid?" when registering for courses. You must select your FSA academic year at least 10 days prior to the start of your first semester. Once you select "Continue Registration", you will be provided with the start dates that are currently available.

Logging into Courses

It is important that you log into each of your registered courses at least once during the first week of classes and submit a forum post of at least 250 words, or you will be dropped from the course. We recommend you log in early in the week in case any technical errors arise. To enter the classroom, log into the ecampus with your student ID and password, then click the Enter Classes button at the top left of the screen. You may log in only after the classroom opens.

Read also: UVA Programs and Deadlines

Add/Drop Period

The Add/Drop Period is an established period of time at the beginning of each quarter when students may add classes or drop classes from their registration without penalty. Currently the Add/Drop Period is the first eight days of each quarter.

Late Registration

Students are expected to register classes within registration period.

Registration Holds

Students with a hold on their records will not be allowed to register until the hold is cleared. The most frequent holds are for past due accounts. Students can check AMU Student Portal > Sign in >Account Balance.

Canceled Classes

If a class is canceled, students are informed that the class is unavailable for registration. If a cancellation occurs after students have already registered, they will be dropped from the class and notified by the Registrar’s Office.

Financial Aid Considerations

When using FSA to pay for school, it's wise to register no later than one week prior to the start of each semester.

Academic Policies and Procedures

Course Withdrawal

To officially withdraw from a course, a student must complete a “Course Withdrawal” form. A student who officially withdraws from the course after the Add/Drop period and prior to the end of the sixth week will be given a grade of “W”.

Auditing Courses

Elective and hands-on technique courses are not available for auditing.
Non-AMU students must first apply to audit the course.
Class handouts are not available to auditing students for free.
Auditing students who fail to follow the attendance policy including random absence, tardy or leaving early, interrupting the lecture or disrupting the class will be given one warning before dropped from the course and forfeit any rights to future audits.

Grade of Incomplete ("I")

The Grade of “I” may be awarded only at the end of a quarter when all but a minor portion of the course work has been satisfactorily completed. The grade of “I” is not to be awarded in place of an “F”. Not require a grade from the instructor.

Appealing a Grade

If a student is not satisfied with the grade given by the instructor, he or she can initiate in writing a grade appeal to the instructor involved. If the student is not satisfied by the instructor’s explanation or action, the grade appeal can be presented to the Chief Academic Officer for resolution. The Chief Academic Officer and the Academic Committee will render the final decision.

Leave of Absence Policy

A Leave of Absence (LOA) refers to a specific time period during a student’s ongoing program of study when he or she is not in academic attendance. It does not include non-attendance for a scheduled break in a student’s program. For the Doctorate program, a written request must be made and the LOA may not exceed a cumulative one hundred and eighty (180) days within any twelve (12) month period beginning on the first day of the student’s initial leave of absence. student’s initial leave of absence. regulations, policies and procedures are adhered to. be requested prior to the time the student plans to be away from school. University for at least one academic year. Students returning from a LOA must contact the Registrar’s Office or Chief Academic Officer before registering for classes. Students who have not attended the University for one year or more, must apply for re-admission and must meet the current entrance requirements.

Program Withdrawal

A student may withdraw from the school any time after the add/ drop period (described above) and receive a pro rata refund if he or she has completed 60 percent or less of the scheduled days in the current payment period in his or her program through the last day of attendance. A registration or administration fee will be deducted from the refund, not to exceed $250.00, as well as a deduction for equipment not returned in good condition within 45 days of withdrawal. For the purpose of determining the amount of the refund, the date of the student’s withdrawal shall be deemed the last date of the scheduled attendance.

AMU Re-Admission

The Chief Academic Officer must evaluate the student’s standing. If more than five years have elapsed, since the last prior enrollment, the Academic Committee will reevaluate the student’s placement and the student may be required to take a placement exam; if this is failed, he or she needs to retake the class. Students must contact the Registrar’s Office to be sure all prior financial commitments are complete no less than 30 days before the quarter starts. A letter of full acceptance will be sent to the student after the student file and prior financial commitments are complete.

AMU Institutional Exams

AMU institutional exams are the set of exams that comprehensively evaluate the student’s current standard of knowledge and performance from the theory and principles of traditional medicine, acupuncture, herbal medicine, biomedicine, clean and safe Practice, ethics, law and regulation related to the practice of acupuncture and traditional medicine. The institutional exams are separate examinations from the regular classroom exams and clinical training.

Types of Institutional Exams

Level 1 Entrance Exam: Prior to beginning level 1 internship, all students are required to successfully complete and pass Level 1 Entrance Exam. This is a comprehensive written exam of 200 multiple choice questions. The required passing rate for the exam is 70%. Entrance Exam. Clinic Entrance Exam is offered once a quarter.
Level 1 Exit Exam: Prior to beginning level 2 internship, all students are required to successfully complete and pass Level 1 Exit Exam. This is a practicum exam that assesses a student’s clinical skills prior to beginning internship level 2. The required passing rate for the exam is 70%. directly to the Dean of Clinic for the Level 1 Exit Exam schedule.
Level 2 Exit Exam: Prior to beginning level 3 internship, all students are required to successfully complete and pass Level 2 Exit Exam. This is a comprehensive written exam of 200 multiple choice questions. The required passing rate for the exam is 70%. Level 2 Exit Exam is offered once per quarter. Each student is given one time opportunity only to have a make-up level 2 exit exam offered within the same quarter. Students can choose at which quarter they like to schedule their make-up exam. Please consult with the Dean of Faculty for scheduling and further information.
Level 3 Exit Exam: Prior to completing the remaining 80 clinical hours of level 3 internship, all students are required to successfully complete and pass Level 3 Exit Exam. Internship registration to this remaining 80 clinical hours of level 3 internship will be blocked until the student has successfully passed the Level 3 Exit Exam. Level 3 interns are advised to take this level 3 exit exam as early as possible whenever they have begun their clinic level 3 internship in order to prevent any delay for program completion. The Level 3 Exit Exam is offered by the university once per academic quarter. This Level 3 Exit Exam is a comprehensive written exam of 200 multiple choice questions. The required passing rate for the exam is 70%. Level 3 Exit Exam is offered once per quarter. Each student is given one time opportunity only to have a make-up level 3 exit exam offered within the same quarter. Students can choose at which quarter they like to schedule their make-up exam. There is a maximum number of attempts applied to all students regarding the passing of the institutional exams. Failure to meet this maximum number of attempts for the institutional exams may result in termination of the student’s status in the program. Please refer to the “Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)” policy in this program catalog. Schedule for appointment is required in advance for the consultation session. Students are encouraged to schedule an appointment in advance to consult for further information and preparation for the exam.

There is a maximum number of attempts applied to all students regarding the passing of the institutional exams. Failure to meet this maximum number of attempts for the institutional exams may result in termination of the student’s status in the program. Schedule for appointment is required in advance for the consultation session.

Program Completion Requirements

Completion of the core curriculum with a minimum of 2,400 hours of didactic instruction (240 units that consists of 234 required didactic units and 6 required elective didactic units) plus 1,020 hours of clinical internship (200 hours observation plus 760 hours of supervised clinical internship and 60 hours of DAHM integrative case studies which comprises 51 quarter units) and 60 lab hours (DAHM professional development portfolio that comprises 3 quarter units).
In terms of residency, a quarter is defined as twelve (12) units or more. The minimum residency is 12 quarters. The minimum residency is 12 quarters.
Completion of the core curriculum with a minimum of 2160 hours of didactic instruction (216 quarter units that consists of 210 required didactic units and 6 required elective didactic units) plus 960 hours of clinical internship (200 hours observation plus 760 hours of supervised clinical internship which comprises 48 quarter units).
In terms of residency, a quarter is defined as twelve (12) units or more. minimum residency is four years. clinic hours must be taken at AMU University.

Student Records and Privacy

In accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the University protects the privacy of student records, including address, phone number, grades and attendance dates. Student records are permanently kept in locked fireproof file cabinets and a backup copy of student records is kept on an off-site server. Students have the right to review their academic file by submitting a request to the Registrar. Student records are maintained at the school site for five years from the last date of attendance. Transcripts are maintained permanently.

Course Descriptions

While the primary focus is on the academic schedule, it's helpful to understand the breadth of courses offered. Here are a few examples:

History of Warfare (1588-1790s): This course covers the history of warfare from the Spanish Armada in 1588 to the dawn of the French Revolutionary wars in the 1790s. The 17th and 18th centuries were an era in world history abound in continuous warfare. The militaries of Europe in particular were still primarily composed of mercenaries, politically and often militarily unreliable. Warfare in this era was not confined to the plains of Europe; the world’s oceans also played host to their own form of combat. The 17th and 18th centuries at sea began with Great Britain on the verge of invasion from the Spanish Armada to Great Britain becoming the unquestioned master of the ocean. Thus, the 17th and 18th centuries began in an aura of indecisiveness and closed awash in the destruction of “world” war. The evolution of warfare from the inconclusive to the decisive battle is explored in depth.
European Intellectual History (1688-1914): This course investigates the intellectual, social, and economic history of Europe from the Glorious Revolution of 1688 to the onset of the Great War in 1914. The major focus is on the Enlightenment, the Industrial Revolution, the Age of Ideologies, and the new imperialism prior to the World War I. While emphasizing the intellectual history of Europe, the course also investigates the social and economic structure of 18th and 19th century Europe.
Technology in the 21st Century Classroom: This course explores how technology may be used as a tool in the 21st Century classroom to facilitate changes in the ways teachers teach and students learn, and ultimately to stimulate positive changes in education. It also examines how educators can increase their own productivity by using technology for communication and collaboration among colleagues, staff, parents, students, and the larger community. Candidates will examine the benefits and possible drawbacks of technology use in their classrooms and learn how to integrate technology effectively into their teaching as a means to promote student learning. Candidates will discover how technology can be an engaging and effective tool in the classroom. Candidates will also have the opportunity to learn how to incorporate the latest technology and software into the curriculum to support learning. This course addresses the standards developed by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). It also incorporates 21st Century Learning Skills.
Academic Advising Theories: In this course students will develop a deeper understanding of various academic advising theories and how they can be put into practice on a day-to-day basis with individuals and groups. Students will also examine their own philosophical perspectives and academic advising styles to identify and become more self-aware of their own personal approaches. Students will develop their personal advising philosophy during this course.
Accounting Concepts: This course is an overview of accounting concepts used by managers in a business environment intended for non-accounting majors with no accounting background. Topics include accounting concepts, users of accounting information, elements and purpose of financial statements, accrual accounting, internal control and basic financial analysis. Introduction to the purposes of financial accounting statements and the recognition, measurement, and disclosure concepts and methods underlying financial statements. A continuation of Accounting I, this course includes study of managerial concepts, analysis of financial statements, internal controls, and contemporary accounting standards, practices, and issues. Students must have access to Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel software.
Accounting Information Systems (AIS): This course provides students with an in-depth understanding of accounting information systems (AIS) and their role in modern business operations. Topics include internal control, business information systems, data management, and the integration of technology into the accounting cycle. Students develop specialized knowledge in designing, implementing, and auditing accounting systems, with emphasis on applying these skills in professional practice.
Financial Issues in Acquisition: In this course students evaluate how organizations process and report accounting information in adherence to ethical standards and generally accepted accounting principles. Deals with common financial issues in acquisition that include cost estimating; earned value analysis; Planning, Programming, Budgeting and Execution (PPBE); congressional enactment; and budget preparation and execution. ET.

Key Contacts

The Office of the Registrar is responsible for academic and classroom scheduling, student registration, enrollment verification, grading and academic records maintenance, transfer credit articulation, degree audits, monitoring undergraduate general education requirements, degree awarding, course evaluations, student data/statistical analysis, veterans benefits, FERPA compliance, and transcript services.

tags: #amu #semester #schedule